Christopher Wehner shares his thoughts on the transition to fully electric vehicles, innovation in mobility and increasing sustainability.
1. What does accelerating energy transformation mean for the transportation industry?
From our perspective, accelerating energy transformation in the automotive sector means working towards emission-free mobility. This is our goal and we’ve been leading the charge in this respect. BMW was the first to bring an electric vehicles to Singapore roads back in 2014 with the BMW i3. Currently we have the widest range of electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) for customers in Singapore to choose from. Globally, we are on track to electrify all our brands and model series, and we aim to have half a million electrified vehicles on the roads by the end of 2019.
2. How is digitalisation impacting your business in Asia, and around the world?
Digitalisation is a key focus for the BMW Group globally, from the production of vehicles to how we engage with our customers. As our customers in the BMW Group Asia region are extremely digitally savvy, it is important that we leverage digital technologies and platforms to engage with our customers. For example, in August 2019, BMW Singapore collaborated with Lazada Singapore to launch the all-new BMW 1 Series. This pilot programme provided us with insights into customer behaviour in the market and will help drive future communication activities. On the business side, we’re evaluating and testing blockchain technology to provide visibility across our supply chain. The BMW Group Innovation Office in Singapore recently worked with DHL Asia Pacific Innovation Centre on a blockchain proof of concept that has the potential to significantly reduce time to market and overall costs.
3. Could you share more about BMW’s move to help consumers transition to electric vehicles?
We believe that the future is electric and by 2023, we will offer 25 electrified models. More than half of these models will be fully electric. However, the adoption of electrified vehicles is not a sprint, it is a marathon. While charging infrastructure continues to develop, PHEVs would be the first step for customers before they transition to fully electric vehicles Right now, it is important that we give our customers a choice – stick with internal combustion engines (ICEs), have a taste of the benefits of electro-mobility with PHEVs, or dare to be different and go fully electric with EVs.
4. What are BMW’s goals for Sustainable Development, and how is BMW working towards achieving these goals?
The BMW Group aspires to be the most successful and sustainable premium producer for individual mobility. It is our clear intention to establish an increasing number of solutions for greater sustainability. To achieve this, we ensure that everything we do ties back to our five strategic innovation fields that are consistently geared towards the future of mobility: design, autonomous driving, connectivity, electrification and services.
In this way, we are not just reducing emissions and increasing sustainability in individual mobility but we are also extending our customers’ digital world into their cars. All these are integral parts of our Strategy NUMBER ONE > NEXT.
Extensive research and development efforts, ongoing collaborations with corporates and government agencies and listening to our customers’ needs will help us to achieve our future mobility goals.
5. The theme for SIEW 2019 is Accelerating Energy Transformation. What do you look forward to being discussed at SIEW this year?
I look forward to discussions on charging infrastructure development, new innovations and sustainable energy sources – key factors in enabling the quicker uptake of electro-mobility in Singapore.
About Christopher Wehner, Managing Director, BMW Group Asia
As the Managing Director of BMW Group Asia, Mr. Christopher Wehner oversees the East Asia region which includes 13 markets: Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Brunei, Bangladesh, Guam, New Caledonia, Tahiti, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar.
Mr. Wehner has been working with the BMW Group since 2000 where he began his career as General Manager, Product, Price and Brand Strategy for MINI. He then held the position of Vice President Brand Strategies, Product Requirements and Revenue Targets for the BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce brands for five years. Before joining BMW Group Asia in August 2018, Mr. Wehner spent five years as the Head of Product Management Midsize Class BMW.